Story Behind The Song

A tragic warning of a dystopian future as told by a soothsayer with a crystal ball and her Tarot cards. Will we see her prognostications play out or will we make the necessary changes in time?

Song Description

The kernel of the idea began during an impromptu writing session where my partner Dave Levene, ever the Stevie Wonder fan, began playing with a funky groove on the Clavinet while explaining that most people don't play the Clavinet correctly; that the melody should bounce like a bass line. Pretty much right away I felt a unique melody line and an image of Chicken-Little running around yelling "The Sky is falling! The sky is falling!" So the hook line wrote itself. Once that apocalyptic ethos was established I went about cataloging the images of urban decay, the fall of Rome and the images of the breakdown of society that started to flood my mind. Sung to a scat line that Dave began humming. There is pathos, sensitivity and dark humor bound up within an urgent message.

Lyrics

I've seen the sky fall down I've seen the sky falling down
Well I got a needle little lover
And you're gonna bleed cause you're a sucker
And I'm gonna deal the dust that says you live or you die

I've seen the sky fall down I seen kings and I've seen clowns
I place my card right there and when I play another
My grieving eyes see the future
And I'm gonna deal the cards that says you live or you die

You gotta leave enough alone and throw the dog another bone
You gotta leave enough alone and throw that dog another bone

You're California dreamin' all while the talking heads are schemin'
I hear you pleadin' in the gutter
Can you spare a dime for a brother?
I'm gonna deal the dust that says you live or you die

So let your freedom ring and let the sky fall down
They got you on your knees they blind you with religion
Don't even see the revolution
And I'm gonna deal the cards that says you live or you die

You gotta leave enough alone and throw the dog another bone
You gotta leave enough alone and throw that dog another bone

BR
Oh lordy trouble so hard, oh lordy trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God don't nobody know my troubles but God
Went down the hill to work all day lord I gave my life away
Went to the room but didn't stay long I looked on the bed my brother was dead

I seen the sky fall down the ship of fools we call us drown
I see the children of tomorrow
Black death and emptiness and sorrow
And I'm gonna deal the cards that says you live or you die

So let your freedom ring All while the sky is falling down
There is a movement on it's called de-evolution
Wake up you'll miss the revolution
And I'm gonna deal the cards that says you live or you die

You gotta leave enough alone and throw the dog another bone
You gotta leave enough alone and throw the dog another bone

This is the new Rome